News

As you may have heard, Canada Post has gone on strike. Unfortunately, this came without notice from the union, leaving parcels already in transit at risk of delays or being stuck in limbo. Like many small businesses, we find it disheartening to once again be at the mercy of large institutions that don’t seem to recognize how disruptive this is for independent makers and their customers. Our New Shipping Plan We’ve acted quickly to minimize the impact on you. Starting immediately: U.S. Orders: We’ve switched to ChitChats / USPS. These shipments are still DDP (Delivered Duty Paid)—which means we continue to prepay all duties on your behalf. ChitChats trucks are crossing the border, and parcels are moving smoothly with confirmed deliveries. Canadian Orders: We’ll be shipping domestically with FedEx. ⚠️ Note: No carrier other than Canada Post can deliver to PO Boxes. PO Box deliveries cannot be fulfilled during this strike. You can continue to shop with confidence knowing that your orders will reach you, even if it takes us a bit more juggling behind the scenes. What About Shipments Already in Transit? For any shipments already handed over to Canada Post or currently within their network, delivery timelines are uncertain during the strike. We will continue to monitor developments and share updates as they become available. If you have time-sensitive orders en route, please reach out to us at support@threadandmaple.com. Looking Ahead: Our New U.S. 3PL We’re also excited to share that our first inventory shipment to our new 3PL in Champlain, NY is scheduled for next week! Once their shipping team is trained up (and we make sure they’re not eating all your maple candies 🍁😉), we hope to begin shipping directly within the U.S. via USPS by mid to late October. A big milestone for us! Mini Binder Launch We had planned to launch our new Mini Binder this Saturday (after delaying it from the original launch last month due to the tariff situation). However, with only two staff members able to drive parcels to the ChitChats location, we don’t want to overwhelm them during this transition. For that reason, we’ll be delaying the Mini Binder launch once more :( We will see how we manage with ChitChats drop-offs and keep you posted on timing. You can take a sneak peek at our newest binder family member here. Instead, we’re running a fun giveaway on Instagram this weekend to keep the excitement going while we adjust. We hope you’ll join in! Thank You for Your Patience As a small business, facing yet another unexpected headwind is frustrating—but your support and understanding mean the world to us. We’re committed to keeping you informed, being transparent about challenges, and most importantly, making sure your parcels arrive safely. Thanks so much!

This page is a living resource for fellow Canadian small businesses and makers who ship to the U.S. We’ve gathered links, guides, and insights that have been shared in our community conversations. If you have questions, or if there’s something you’d like added here, please post a comment. Last updated: Sept 9, 2025   Helpful Links & Resources   HS Codes & Tariffs TariffGuide.ai HS Code Finder (Zonos) HS Code Lookup (U.S. government official) Shipping & DDP Canada Post Instructions below on this page CP Business Accounts: Not yet integrated with Shopify/Shipstation for printing DDP labels (as of Sep 1 they're estimating ShipStation will be ready in 2-3 weeks) You can print DDP labels from Shopify using Shopify CP rates, if you disconnect your CP account from Shopify. Note: People can't reconnect it afterwards, so only do it if you're really sure, because you won't benefit from negotiated rates anywhere else in the world. $1.99CAD processing fee (included in label cost) Duties & charges billed to sender via Zonos 3rd party DDP only Not accepting CUSMA certificates Stallion Express Integrates with Shopify Brokerage fee of $0.99–$1.99 per package Accept CUSMA certificates Not available in all provinces & require drop-off DDP via USPS and DDU via UPS For DDP, you have to submit your items for HS classification approval first ChitChats Merchandise processing fee $1.35USD/shipment + $0.15USD/unique HS code Accept CUSMA certificates Pickup only available via 3rd party like CanPar (can set up within app) Can't print Canada Post DDP labels DDP only with their own carrier Have been having issues with trucks being turned away recently EasyShip $39CAD/month subscription (offer free trial to try it) Integrates with Shopify Offers DDP + DDU Allows integration of your own courier accounts Has reasonable rates for FedEx International Connect Plus for DDP DHL Integrated with Shopify for label printing Offers DDP + DDU Expensive shipping & processing fees (flat fee of $10+ per shipment + % of duties + per line item fees) UPS Not integrated with Shopify for label printing Offers DDP + DDU Can print DDP labels in ShipStation Can get reasonable shipping rates if call & hustle, but brokerage expensive Purolator Integrated with Shopify for label printing, but not for DDP labels Offers DDP + DDU (DDP have to print from their website) Don't know much about it, looks pricey. Anyone have experience? FedEx Much better than DHL/UPS both shipping & fees International Connect the best option Offers DDP + DDU Not integrated with Shopify label printing (not available to Canadian shops) DDP labels can be printed from FedEx dashboard or from ShipStation Can connect to Shopify so your orders automatically go to FedEx dashboard via FedEx Shopify app. Note FedEx are waiving their brokerage fees for parcels under $800USD until September 22nd (only applies if your items don't require any special paperwork like CUSMA or TSCA or any other certificates) Brokerage rates: $10 for orders under $200, $20 for orders over $200 They are returning a lot of parcels due to inability to store them in their warehouse space. We shipped 2 parcels Aug 29th and by Sep 11, neither have cleared customs (no CUSMA or anything). One is being returned :( OrderCup Integrated with Shopify and Canada Post DDP Allows input of Zonos account key to process duty collection Benefit over standard Shopify+Canada Post solution is much better shipping rates $69.99USD/month for 3000 orders, 30-day free trial ClickShip Offers DDP Have preferred rates with FedEx Accept CUSMA certificate with every shipment No monthly fee Example rate - $25CAD for a 0.12kg package includes brokerage fees (should be noted this parcel was shipped before Sept 22nd) Shopify Duties Collection at Checkout How to enable duties collection at checkout - Note these rates are calculated by a 3rd party Avalara and aren't 100% accurate. The final costs will only be determined by U.S. customs when the parcel crosses the border. These pre-calculated estimates don't account for additional brokerage/processing fees. It's now available for all Shopify plans. It only can read 6 digit HS Codes…. which is HUGE because US uses 10 digit codes to classify. As an example, within Women’s pants code, the duties (base, MFN) vary from 6 - 32%. It apparently charges the lowest rate. So, pants which are MFN 28.2% were charging at 6%. It can’t add the IEEPA 35% Trump Tariff because it claims it’s using the postal system who’s using flat rate, so it charges neither You can put 10 digit HTSUS codes in shopify, it just doesn’t use them It encourages you to embed duties into sale prices but presumably those would be wrong too It takes 0.5% of sales checked out because Avalara is apparently powering the duty engine CUSMA CBSA CUSMA guide How to complete CUSMA certification in ChitChats Example Certificate of Origin with instructions from CBSA CUSMA certificate form FedEx Ship Canada Post DDP Step by Step You can create duties prepaid labels from Canada Post Shipping Manager. Canada Post is only accepting U.S.-bound parcels if the duties are paid by the seller (DDP). They integrated with Zonos who will be collecting the duties from sellers by automatic billing to the credit card on file. As long as you're shipping with Canada Post to the U.S. and sign up for Zonos with the link below, you don't have to pay their $2500-$4000/yr subscription fees. So far, the integration only works if you manually create shipments in Canada Post website. We haven't been able to get Shopify label printing to work yet (if you have please share in comments!) Create Account with Zonos here From the dashboard, click Settings > Billing and add a credit card Log in to your Canada Post business account (create if you don't have one) Back in the Zonos dashboard, copy the Account Key to clipboard (Settings > Account Key) Click here to link it by pasting it in your Canada Post account preferences (Thanks Max @lesgarcons.boutique for helping me find this!) Create a shipment, input shipping address & package details. Select automatic billing by Zonos. Be sure to add a description, HS code and country of origin. If you're not sure what your HS code is, try one of the links at the bottom of this page. Print your label   Community Support Add your listing to the Support Canadian Makers page share Detailed summary of the situation to help explain to customers Add your IG handle in the comments if you'd like to be added to the Canadian Makers IG group chat International Expansion Yonda Tax Fully Managed Global Service Expert support: You're allocated a personal account manager who will be responsible for all parts of the process. (registration & setup, filing returns and communication with all tax offices). They essentially work as an extension of your team dealing with all your indirect taxes. Tax setup at checkout: We configure your ecommerce site / billing system to collect the correct amount of tax at checkout based on the jurisdiction the customer is based. Monthly automation: Yonda connects to your ecommerce site / billing system to import your sales data, enabling efficient, automated and accurate filing. Tax payments: After we file the returns for you, we will provide you with the payment instructions via email for VAT/GST jurisdictions and for sales tax we give the state your ACH number. Jurisdiction based pricing structure (USD)   Registration fees (once off, upfront) UK VAT - 350 IOSS VAT - 400 AUS GST - 300 US Sales Tax - $50 per nexus state Monthly filing and support fee (fixed fee, charged monthly regardless of filing periodicity) Platform fee - $100 UK VAT - 100 IOSS VAT - 180 AUS GST - 150 US Sales Tax - $30 per nexus state

The sudden removal of the U.S. de minimis exemption has blindsided many of us with devastating ripple effects. If you’re a customer, this could mean delays, higher costs, or paused orders from many small makers you love. I want to lay out what’s happening, why it matters, and how we can try to navigate it.

Last updated: September 10th, 2025 We are thrilled to reopen our doors to our American neighbours and friends! We have confirmed DDP shipping works with Canada Post/USPS (albeit sluggishly!) From September 10th onward, all U.S. orders will ship DDP (Delivered Duty Paid). This means Thread & Maple will prepay and absorb all duties and brokerage fees, so there are no surprise costs on your end and your parcel moves through customs without delay.  One strange thing happened - PayPal has stopped working for U.S. customers when we resumed shipping. This is not isolated to our shop and we are hoping for a quick resolution from Shopify. Thanks so much for your patience! Shipping DDP is not a sustainable solution for us long-term, but as a small business, we can’t simply stop selling to the U.S.—too much is at stake. Our Ukrainian leather team relies on consistent monthly orders to stay employed, and we’re committed to keeping that lifeline intact. We’ve secured a 3rd party warehouse in New York and are working hard to have it fully operational by early October. Once live, most of our products will ship domestically within the U.S.. We will still need to cover duties to import our products into the U.S., but the customs brokerage fees on consolidated bulk shipments will be much lower.  Note that we will need to begin charging and remitting New York local state taxes once the warehouse is set up, so all NY orders will be charged tax on checkout. What's Going On? Starting August 29, 2025, the United States plans to suspend the de minimis rule that previously allowed many small imports under $800USD to enter duty-free. After this change, U.S.-bound parcels shipped from our Montreal studio will incur import duties and customs brokerage/clearance fees charged by carriers. Because our products are made in a few different places—Ukraine, Portugal, Canada, Turkey, and more—duty rates will vary by item and country of origin. As one example, leather bags made in Ukraine are expected to face a 19% tariff under current classifications. In addition, carriers like UPS and FedEx charge brokerage/clearance fees, commonly ~$30–$60 per shipment, in addition to tariffs collected by customs. We know this adds real cost. As a small, Canadian business that serves many U.S. customers, it hurts. Your support is the reason we’re here—and the reason our artisan leather team in Ukraine continues to have steady work during unimaginable times. We’re deeply grateful for you. ****************************************************************************************** Click here to read the full story about what's happening to small businesses like ours. ******************************************************************************************* A Personal Note from Olga I’m an entrepreneur and a busy mom, and—like so many small business owners—I’m doing the late-night spreadsheets, the duty-code rabbit holes, and the “how do we make this work?” math. I’ll be honest: I’ve had moments where I wondered if we should close up shop because the numbers don’t add up. But I’m not giving up—because I have worked very hard, because I love this community, because you’ve been with us from the start, and because our artisan leather team in Ukraine relies on this work. We’re going to find a way through. Thank you for standing with us. — Olga (Co-founder, Thread & Maple) What We’re Working On We’re moving quickly to keep your costs predictable and your orders moving: U.S. warehousing/3PL so core items can ship domestically DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) so duties/fees can be pre-paid at checkout (so you’ll know the full cost upfront and parcels move faster) More U.S. retail partners to put T&M products closer to you We’ll keep you posted as these go live.   At Thread & Maple, we’ve always been about more than just crafting beautiful organizers and accessories for makers. We’re a small, passionate team that cares deeply about our craft, our community, and the people behind every stitch and seam. But right now, we’re facing a challenge that threatens the future of small Canadian businesses like ours—and we need your support. Your Support Makes a Difference By choosing to shop with us, you’re not just purchasing a knitting accessory—you’re directly supporting a small business, skilled artisans, and a global knitting community that thrives on creativity and connection. More About Us About Our Products   We know this tariff is frustrating, and we’re doing everything we can to make it easier for you to continue enjoying the handcrafted pieces you love. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Thank you for standing by us, for choosing handmade, and for being a part of the Thread & Maple family. With gratitude,

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This weekend, we’re celebrating a milestone we never could’ve imagined five years ago — and to thank you for being part of our journey, we’re running a sitewide sale with 15% off everything, plus a little extra gift from us to you. ✨ Every order placed during the sale comes with a free leather tassel  — just choose your color and add it to your cart. Because without this incredible community of makers like you, none of it would’ve been possible. It’s hard to believe Thread & Maple is officially five years old. What started as a small, hopeful idea has grown into something beyond our wildest dreams — and it’s all thanks to you. We still remember launching our very first design — the Notions Clutch — with shaky hands, wondering if anyone would love it as much as we did. You sold us out in the first week… and gave us the courage to keep going. Since then, it’s been a journey of growth — filled with lessons, hard work, and a deep commitment to our craft. We’ve taken our creations on the road to fiber festivals across North America, eager to share what we’ve built with fellow makers. But let’s be honest — it hasn’t all gone smoothly. There was the time we brought five pallets of product to our very first show, Stitches West, wide-eyed, full of hope… and brought four and a half pallets back. 😅 Or the time we were headed to Rhinebeck with binders and pages flying off the back of our truck on the I-87 because one of us (we still argue over who) forgot to latch the door properly. 🙈 But through every misstep, we’ve kept going — and the heart of Thread & Maple has always been our incredible team, especially in Ukraine. When we started, our workshop had just four artisans. Today, it’s grown to over 70 remarkable people who have persevered through unimaginable challenges. During the darkest times of the war, they turned their workshop into a Molotov factory to defend their homeland. They opened their doors to families fleeing from the east. They sang songs as they stitched by candlelight, warmed by a single hearth stove during daily power outages — and still, they show up with care and dedication to create beautiful, lasting pieces for makers like you. We went seven long months with no incoming leather after the war began. (Ukrainian airspace is still closed, and to this day, we smuggle our leather in by truck through Poland.) And behind the scenes, our team has shifted and grown too. Our original duo — Sam and Olga — became a solo Olga steering the ship, while Sam became a mom of two (with one more on the way ❤️). Sam’s mom, Stephanie (who also runs our sister company Scrumptiouspurl), keeps everything running as our operations manager — we honestly don’t know what we’d do without her.  Today, we’ve got a small but mighty team by our side, united by the same purpose we started with: to make the world a little better, one thoughtful, meaningful piece at a time. Over these past five years, we’ve proudly donated tens of thousands to causes close to our hearts — supporting humanitarian aid, cancer research, and grassroots organizations making a real difference. And we’ve never lost sight of why we started: to help makers stay organized, inspired, and surrounded by tools that carry meaning, purpose, and craftsmanship. So, what’s next? We can’t wait to share more new designs with you — pieces stitched together with care, resilience, and hope. Pieces made to support your creativity, wherever your craft takes you. But first, we want to say thank you — for believing in us, for cheering us on, for being part of this story. Enjoy 15% off sitewide this weekend, plus a free leather tassel with every order — our gift to you. Here’s to five years of making, together. ❤️ Shop the Sale No code necessary (just remember to pick your tassel and add it to cart). Sale runs Thursday through Sunday, July 6th (EST).